Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson
World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and Mother’s Day.
There has been a lot of media chatter these days about our country’s enemies and their threats to our country’s defenses. We are the envy of many other people who share this earth with us.
More important for us as believers in Christ is the defensive position we must take to preserve religious freedom. That comes about by our steadfast fidelity to the Creed we pray at every Sunday Mass dating back to the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.
But long before that Council, St. Paul, our greatest missionary, made it abundantly clear to his audiences that Jesus Christ is our surest defense against the main enemy of our souls: Satan the father of lies.
In the present secular culture that dominates our country, where the mere mention of the word “God” makes a lot of people uncomfortable, we need to have a more robust Christian faith. I daresay it was easier some n fifty or so years ago. (I took comfort recently when I saw some television news personnel proudly wearing their forehead crosses on Ash Wednesday evening. A tiny breakthrough.)
These thoughts prompt me to remind you of one of best “tools” for a muscular maintenance of our faith life, namely the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Penance. There is nothing like the feeling of relief one gets after a good sacramental confession.
On two other matters, the first is that today our Church marks the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Specifically, we’re asked to pray for young men and women to consider either a vocation to the permanent diaconate, or the priesthood or the consecrated life as the case may be. Prayer is a major component, but so is your encouragement to a young man or woman who mentions their attraction to one or the other. You’re helping the Holy Spirit do His work!
The second mater also on our minds today is our country’s “Mother’s Day.” We honor that very special person in our lives. Allow me to close these reflections with the tribute of an imperfect but still very great man to his mother:
“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.” – George Washington
God love you and give you His peace.
Rev. Peterson’s Reading & Gospel Summary
Reading I: Acts 13: 14, 43-52.
Paul and Barnabas make the First of three missionary journeys.
They preach the Word in Antioch, where many Gentiles became believers. However, the majority of Jews in the city did not accept the Faith.
Reading II: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17.
The uncountable crowd in John’s vision are the spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham promised him by God. These faithful wear white, signifying their emergence from trials and persecution. The Lamb leads them to heavenly joy.
The Gospel: John 10: 27-30.
Jesus’ protection equals that of the Father, who shields all believers from the threats of Satan the enemy of the Kingdom. Jesus declares that the Trinity of Persons is actually one God.